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It is quite rare to walk past a garden and not see lilacs. They are beautiful, low-maintenance, sweet-smelling shrubs, so it’s easy to see why so many people grow lilacs.
The petals appear in clusters (or panicles) in early spring and summer and they smell downright heavenly. For the rest of the year, the medium to large sized leaves add cheerful texture to the garden.
Whether you want to add a bush to your garden or just make an existing one happy, here’s what to know about growing lilacs.
Contents
What are lilacs?
Did you know that lilacs are part of the olive family? Obviously, the particularity of these shrubs is their flowers, and they do not produce edible fruits like their cousin the olive tree. However, the flowers are edible.
In general, the flowers are fragrant and come in pink, purple and white. You can expect to see the petals from early spring through summer.
The most common species of lilac is Syringa vulgaris, native to East Asia and Southeast Europe. However, there are also other species and hybrids of this shrub that you can grow in your garden, such as:
- Persian lilac (S X Persian)
- Dwarf Korean Lilac (S. meyeri)
- japanese lilac (S. reticulata)
- Chinese lilac (S. x chinensis)
- Himalayan lilac (S.emod)
The common, Chinese, Japanese, Korean dwarf and lilac species generally grow well in USDA growing zones 3-8. They need freezing temperatures during the dormant season in order to produce those fragrant flowers in the spring, so zones 9 and up are usually (don’t worry, you have several options).
The Himalayas need even colder weather and might struggle in zone 8 and above.
Best Lilac Hybrids and Cultivars
There are many options when shopping for lilacs. It never hurts to visit a local nursery and ask what they have in stock, as they know what grows best in your garden. Here are some examples :
Agincourt Beauty
This vulgar The cultivar has large, dark purple flowers on long stems that make it perfect for cutting. In fact, it has the largest florets of any lilac of this species. Grow this lilac in zones 3-8.
Charles Joly
S. vulgaris ‘Charles Joly’ has vibrant magenta flowers that feature double blooms that last nearly a month in zones 3-7.
common white
There is nothing common in this beauty (S. vulgaris var. Alba). The snowy white flowers are extremely fragrant and this lilac can survive even in zone 2.
Ivory Silk
This gorgeous Japanese lilac grows up to 25 feet tall with massive cream-colored flowers that smell sweet. Hardy in zones 3-7.
Ludwig Spaeth
This beauty features deep deep purple-red flowers that are extremely fragrant. It starts flowering later in the season than many other varieties and grows in zones 3 to 8.
Miss Kim
‘Miss Kim’ (S. pubescens var. patula ‘Miss Kim’) is best for those who live in warmer regions, as it grows well in zones 4-9. It is a dwarf shrub, topping about five feet.
Pink
If you thought you were out of the lilac game because you live in zones 9 or 10, don’t worry. ‘Rosie’ is a vulgar cultivar capable of withstanding heat. This plant has bright pink flowers that stand out.
Scentara Double Blue
‘Scentara Double Blue’ (S. X hyacinthiflora) has lilac-blue double flowers that have a pleasant fragrance on an eight-foot-tall shrub. Grow in zones 2-8.
How to plant lilacs
The planting stage can make or break the future of your shrub, so you want to make sure you’re doing it right.
Plant lilacs in the spring after the last expected frost day or in the fall a few weeks before the first expected frost date. Dig a hole in the ground twice as wide and slightly deeper than the container the plant is going into.
It’s a good idea to clean the roots lightly before placing the root ball in the ground. All you have to do is shake the roots gently to remove any excess soil and give the roots some room to spread.
The hole should be large enough to place the loose root ball and still have some extra room for the roots to grow. If you want to grow multiple lilacs in a garden, leave 5 to 15 feet between them (depending on the variety) to avoid overcrowding.
After successfully placing the root ball in the ground, you can water it thoroughly and let it grow. You will need patience to grow lilacs as they can take four or five years to show flowers. But it will be worth it if you have a garden full of fragrant flowers!
Best Lilac Growing Conditions
The first thing to note about lilacs is that they love sunlight.
Ideally, you want to choose a spot that will receive sunlight for at least six hours a day. This is especially important if you want the flowers to bloom well in your garden. Although they thrive in full sun, they can also handle some shade throughout the day.
Next on the list of growing requirements is soil. Lilacs need well-drained soil in order to grow properly. You want a rich, well-drained product with neutral soil pH.
If you don’t naturally have rich, well-drained soil, pretend by incorporating plenty of well-rotted compost into your existing soil.
As already mentioned, lilacs need cold winters. Although they also enjoy hot summers. In hot areas that reach scorching temperatures, give them some shade during the hottest part of the day.
If you live in an area with high humidity, this can impact the growth of your shrub as excessive humidity can lead to fungal diseases.
Planting in pots
There is also the possibility of planting lilacs in pots or containers. You need a pot at least 24 inches wide. It is an excellent alternative for people who do not have a large garden but still want to enjoy this beautiful shrub.
Choose a dwarf variety such as “Minuet”, “Pixie” or “Munchkin”.
Caring for lilacs
These plants like a moderate amount of humidity, so you won’t need to constantly water them for them to grow. It is particularly important to avoid drowning your shrubs.
If lilacs receive too much water, they could rot the roots or fail to flower. Let the top two inches of soil dry out between waterings.
Fertilizer
Another important element for caring for lilacs is fertilizer. You can fertilize your shrubs in the spring, when they can benefit from additional nutrients. Do not use a nitrogen-rich product as this may reduce the size and number of flowers.
Instead, opt for a balanced fertilizer like the one from Amazon. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application.
Cut
In addition to watering your lilacs and giving them fertilizer, you should also schedule time to prune the shrubs. Pruning will promote flower growth and promote better air circulation to your plants.
You can start pruning lilacs after the flowers have bloomed. Remove all faded flowers and reduce the length of long branches. Cut off any branches that cross or show damage or disease.
If you have the space and don’t mind the overgrown look, you can let them grow wild, but you may get fewer flowers than on a tended shrub.
Common Lilac Pests and Diseases
The majority of lilacs are resistant to many pests and diseases, but there are a few common issues to watch out for.
Burn
There are several types of blight that attack lilacs: bacterial, shoot and asocochyta. These burns are caused by Pseudomonas syringae, Phytophthora cactorumand Ascochyte syringes.
All burns cause the leaves or stems to shrivel and turn black or brown. Flowers can also be affected.
Prune any infected parts as soon as you see them. You should also try to maintain good spacing and avoid overhead watering.
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew can be found on lilac shrubs during the summer when there is more humidity and dry weather.
You can notice this disease by its white, powdery texture that can be seen on your plant’s foliage. Fortunately, you can cure powdery mildew with a natural fungicide. So, if you are having trouble and this disease infects your shrubs, a fungicide treatment should help!
Ladder
Oyster mealybug (Ulmi lepidosaphes) and apricot scale, or European fruit lecan (Parthenolecanium corni), both feed on lilacs. Head over to our guide to find out how to deal with these pests.
Drillers
Lilac borers (Podosesia syringae) are the wasp-like clearwing larvae. Creamworms have brown heads and they burrow into the stems of plants. The stems will be weakened and the leaves will wither.
You will need to prune any infested stems as insecticides generally do not work. In the fall, use a systemic pesticide like the one made by Bonide to kill the next generation.
Use lilacs
Of course, you can simply leave the flowers on your shrubs for a lovely, fragrant spring display, but you can also cut the flowers and use them in vases to bring a little magic indoors.
Lilacs are also edible. Try them candied, ground with sugar, or place the flowers in equal parts water and sugar, cover with a cloth and shake daily. After a few days, strain the petals and seal with a lid. In a few days you will have a sparkling lilac cordial.
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